A woman who claimed she was sexually assaulted by a psychiatric nurse - former Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Patrick Dunne - while she was a patient at the Central Mental Hospital, Dundrum, has settled her High Court action for damages of €75,000.
Mr Dunne had denied the claim and the settlement, against the East Coast Area Health Board and Mr Dunne, was made without admission of liability.
Donna Conway, of Ballyfermot, Dublin, had alleged she was abused by Mr Dunne while he was working as a psychiatric nurse at the CMH. Mr Dunne is no longer working at the hospital.
When the case came before the High Court yesterday, Mr Justice Richard Johnson was told the matter was settled and could be struck out.
Ms Conway alleged she was sent in January 1999 from Mountjoy Prison to the CMH for treatment. It was claimed it was the duty of the health board to take all reasonable steps to ensure she would be safe while at hospital. It was claimed the health board failed to take all reasonable steps to ensure Ms Conway was safe while residing at the hospital.
It was alleged that during a period of five weeks commencing in or about January 1999, Mr Dunne sexually assaulted and abused Ms Conway at the hospital. She claimed she suffered severe personal injuries, both mental and physical, loss and damage as a result.
It was also claimed that the acts were occasioned by reason of the negligence and breach of duty of the health board in failing to make proper inquiries prior to employing Mr Dunne to ensure he was a qualified and suitable person to work with female patients at the hospital, failing to control or monitor the activities of Mr Dunne, and failing to protect Ms Conway from assault and battery.
Ms Conway claimed she attended a clinical psychologist who reported that she displayed a broad range of post-traumatic symptoms and suffered panic attacks as well as uncontrollable crying.
After yesterday's hearing Ms Conway said the pain which she has suffered and continued to suffer as a result of the alleged incidents lived with her every day.